Small businesses in Canada are getting a boost onto the Information Highway from a consortium that includes the federal government and private-sector industry.

It took television 13 years to attract 50 million people while the Internet needed only four. It's the popularity of the medium that's encouraging both businesses and consumers to get on-line.

Industry Minister John Manley was in Victoria Saturday to launch Community Storefronts, an electronic commerce project that showcases goods and services from small businesses across the country.

Manley said the "virtual marketplace" will offer everything from insurance to fresh lobsters: "It's a very exciting example of things we're going to be doing as a matter of routine as we travel down the Information Highway."

Manley aims to make Canada "the most connected country in the world by the year 2000." He calls the move to electronic commerce "inevitable".

But people will only shop on-line if they are comfortable with the technology and what it can do for them, he added.

The Community Storefront site offers 750 products and services with 1,750 more to come. Contributions can also be made to 60 Canadian non-profit organizations.

All on-line money transactions are secure. The Royal Bank's participation allows consumers to use their Visa cards to make purchases or donations.

Manley, admitting he was "not exactly the world's greatest shopper" used the launch to demonstrate the on-line purchase of a dozen Okanagon apples.

The Community Storefronts website can be accessed at: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/cs.

--Sandra McCulloch
Times Colonist, staff